During an impassioned legislative debate Monday over a measure to repeal Nevada’s gay marriage ban, Sen. Kelvin Atkinson (D-North Las Vegas) announced that he’s gay.
In what the Las Vegas Sun described as an “emotional moment,” Atkinson told of his father’s interracial re-marriage which would have been banned earlier in American history. Then the senator announced, “I’m black. I’m gay,” adding, “I know this is the first time many of you have heard me say that I am a black, gay male.”
Atkinson went on to rebut the argument that concept that same-sex marriage threatened other marriages.
“If this hurts your marriage, then your marriage was in trouble in the first place,” he said.
How about we take this to the next level?
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The Nevada Senate voted 12-9 to begin the process of repealing the gay marriage ban from the state constitution.
orcanyc
Congratulation’s on your brave stance. Keep up the good work.
Scribe38
So proud of you brother, from another black male. You are a great role model and please understand that gay teens are watching you and realizing that their orientation won’t hold them back from their goals. Every community needs a few more men like you.
Cam
Congratulations!
And, the problem with the anti-gay argument is that none of their arguments make sense if anybody breaks them down. his comment of….
““If this hurts your marriage, then your marriage was in trouble in the first place,” he said.”
Was perfect.
Gordon
Bravo, my man. Proud of you for moving out and forward. Hang tight and be stong.
technicolornina
Sen. Atkinson, as a white lesbian who sees a serious problem with the lack of representation in your microcommunity (subcommunity? What do you call it when you’re talking about minorities stacked on top of each other?), I freaking salute you. The courage it takes to come out is great. The courage it takes to come out when you’re black is greater, and the courage to take that and add on top of it that you could be talking about losing your career? Greater still.
Keep loud and soldier on, good sir.
Dxley
Another black man does us proud. I wasn’t quite surprised by Shaun Thompson though(wait, I think he’s Shaun Blokker) but anyway, we need more black men like you. Congrats man and all the best!
Charli Girl
Damn right!
MuscleModelBlog.com
Great quote!
erasure25
This definitely needs to be repeated: “If this hurts your marriage, then your marriage was in trouble in the first place.”
ChiChi Man
The hilarious thing is that in the article, one of the Senators said that he wrestled with the issue “as a Catholic,” but his girlfriend berated him until he supported marriage equality. I wanted to ask since when does the Catholic church approve of fornication?
We have a ways to go, but as Harvey Milk said, the only way to change this world is for people to come out of the closet. Thank you Sen. Atkinson!
Sohobod
“If this hurts your marriage, then your marriage was in trouble in the first place.”
Very good.
B Damion
God. I am so proud to be a black man. All day baby.
I am so proud of him for his courage and self empowerment. Yes Ggggggggggod honey!
Kieran
It takes guts and courage to face down such a deeply engrained bigotry like homophobia, but every gay person should never hesitate to strike a blow against it the way Kelvin Atkinson did yesterday.
DOFEK
Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, you are my man MAN! how I love to meet you kisses. AdamHomo
LadyL
BQP, baby! (Black, Queer And Proud) So proud to be a member of your tribe, my brotha!!
(P.S.: Everybody commenting here is proud to be a member of your tribe)